Fern Cole, well known for her ceramics and enamel work, had an active role in art education with Revere Local Schools and with the Akron Art Institute (now the Akron Museum of Art). She exhibited widely, including shows in Cleveland, Syracuse, and Chicago.
Born in Dwight, Kansas, Fern Cole studied painting at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, with Birger Sandzén, a Swedish-born émigré who specialized in landscapes painted in a vibrant Post-Impressionist style.
In 1946 Cole moved with her husband to Akron, Ohio, where she gained prominence as an artist and educator at the Akron Art Institute (now the Akron Art Museum) and the nearby Revere Ohio School District.
Multitalented and versatile, Cole worked throughout her career in a wide variety of media, including painting, ceramics, and enameling.